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SPECULATION ABOUNDS ON FERC CHAIRMAN’S FUTURE: FERC may fly under the radar for most of Washington, but in the wonky corners of the energy policy world, questions about whether Chairman Jon Wellinghoff will return for another term are growing. With his term set to expire at the end of next month, several FERC observers are getting antsy. Wellinghoff, 63, was appointed chairman by President Barack Obama in 2009, but the White House hasn’t moved to renominate the Democrat, nor has it responded to emails about his future. Darius Dixon shares the insider view on Wellinghoff’s future: http://politico.pro/104wxSV

Worth noting: Although Wellinghoff's term expires June 30, he would be allowed to stay on as head of the commission until the end of the current congressional session sometime in December, which significantly reduces the White House's urgency of naming a replacement.

DOOMED TO REPEAT IT? While it is important to develop clean energy sources and curb carbon emissions to battle climate change over the long term, oil and particularly natural gas have a big role to play in the near future, Michael Levi of the Council on Foreign Relations says. In his new book out this week, “The Power Surge: Energy, Opportunity, and the Battle for America's Future,” Levi looks at the twin narratives of success in recent years: booming oil and gas production and clean energy ramping up and approaching competitiveness. Congress’s inability to move on almost any issue, especially energy, is threatening to let history repeat itself, Levi says. Your morning host has a Q&A with Levi: http://politico.pro/11EaVhU

— Levi will discuss his book more today at a New America Foundation event, 12:15 p.m. at 1899 L St. NW. Details: http://bit.ly/ZPBtv0

OBAMA TO MEXICO, COSTA RICA: President Obama leaves today for a short trip to Mexico and Costa Rica — but don’t expect to hear much about energy issues, at least publicly. “Probably what you'll see in Mexico is very little discussion from President Obama on energy, because he doesn't want to step into what is such a sensitive domestic political issue in his Congress, in trying to get some changes through in Mexican law,” Ted Piccone, deputy director of foreign policy at the Brookings Institution, said on Tuesday.

Brookings's Diana Villiers Negroponte added: “Private is where this discussion will go on. And [Mexican President Enrique] Peña Nieto's answer is going to be, ‘We are reforming PEMEX, to convert it from a government agency into a for-profit company, May. When that is complete, and we see the shape of it, and we judge the degree of opposition we're getting from the PEMEX labor unions, we will then move to the actual reform of the energy sector itself.’ Do not expect that until October.” Brookings’s preview event: http://bit.ly/YnexIv

— The NRDC has some advice for Obama and Peña Nieto: “Prioritize cleaning up Mexico’s dirty diesel fuels and vehicle fleets. Doing so would benefit both presidents and their respective constituents, augment bilateral trade, clean up air on both sides of the border and save lives,” NRDC’s Amanda Maxwell writes. “The fuel and vehicle standards, having languished for years in Mexico’s regulatory process, need to be prioritized. Their passage would create a win-win situation for both countries.” http://bit.ly/ZWAiNv

TARGETED AUDIENCE: Looking to reach President Obama where it matters? Try putting ads on ESPN. Media strategists tell POLITICO’s Anna Palmer they offer up the all-sports network as an option to clients who want to get their issues in front of Obama and top White House officials, known as big sports fans and rabid ESPN watchers. That includes the American Petroleum Institute, which recently ran ads during March Madness coverage in select states, according to API’s Eric Wohlschlegele. “Our focus is to capture as many eye balls as possible in our efforts to inform the American public, including the president, about the critical role oil and natural gas play in creating millions of jobs and billions to the federal Treasury,” Wohlschlegele said. Anna has the story: http://politi.co/18rXN1F

** A message from America's Natural Gas Alliance: The safe and responsible development of natural gas supports more than 2.8 million jobs across the country. Curious what the economic benefit is for your state? Find out by using our interactive U.S. map at http://bit.ly/TIZPJJ. **

FERC TAKES BLOCKED SUBPOENA TO APPEALS COURT: FERC will try again today to get its hands on emails from JPMorgan in the agency’s investigation of alleged market manipulation against J.P. Morgan Ventures Energy Corp. FERC is appealing the November ruling of a magistrate judge who saw the emails and sided with JPMorgan that the emails are protected as part of attorney-client privilege. In a brief filed earlier this year, FERC argued the judge was wrong to rule the lot as privileged because “12 of the 25 emails were strictly communications between nonlawyers, and the remaining 13 were merely copied to attorneys.” FERC and JPMorgan will make their case today before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit at the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse at 9:30 a.m. Each side gets 20 minutes.

CRS: NOBODY HAPPY WITH MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL MINING ACTIONS: The Obama administration’s actions to cut back on the environmental impacts of mountaintop removal mining haven't sat well with those on either side of the issue, the Congressional Research Service says in a new report. “Viewed broadly, the administration’s combined actions on mountaintop mining displease both industry and environmental advocates. The additional scrutiny of permits and more stringent requirements have angered the coal industry and many of its supporters,” said the CRS report, released by the Federation of American Scientists. “At the same time, while environmental groups support EPA’s steps to restrict the practice, many favor tougher requirements or even total rejection of mountaintop mining in Appalachia.” The report: http://bit.ly/ODOmDz (h/t Ken Ward Jr.)

A123 LAUNCHES ENERGY STORAGE VENTURE: A123 Systems, the battery maker that got a $249 million federal stimulus grant before filing for bankruptcy and being sold to a Chinese company, is launching a new division to act as a “technology incubator,” the company announced yesterday. A123 Venture Technologies, as the new division is called, will let energy storage startups use A123's laboratories — the company has a huge facility in Waltham, Mass., and smaller labs in Hopkinton, Mass., and Romulus, Mich. — to develop and scale up their tech for commercialization. A123 says it will also occasionally provide funding capital as investments in those companies.

N.C. SENATE PANEL PASSES BILL ENDING RENEWABLES PROGRAM: A North Carolina Senate committee yesterday passed legislation ending a renewable energy program — and Democrats on the panel were not happy with how it happened. News & Observer: “Opponents of the bill shouted “No!” when voting to show their frustration at Republican Chairman Bill Rabon’s refusal to count votes with a show of hands. In what was clearly a razor-thin margin, both sides said they would have won if the votes had been counted. … It was also evident that the Republicans are split on the legislation that would end a state policy of requiring electric utilities to buy green electricity from solar farms and other renewable generators. At least a half dozen Republicans voted with Democrats against the controversial bill Wednesday.” N&O: http://bit.ly/103nHE1

COMING MONDAY: Need insight on what’s happening in the tax world? POLITICO is launching a late-morning version of Morning Tax, the premier newsletter on tax policy. POLITICO Pro Tax subscribers will continue to receive the exclusive 6 a.m. version, and starting Monday, POLITICO will offer the Morning Tax roundup to a wider audience later in the day. To sign up, click here: http://www.politico.com/morningtax/.

THAT ONE’S ON ME: Yesterday’s Morning Energy incorrectly reported a change in Exelon Business Services and Chesapeake Energy's outside lobbyist services. Both companies are continuing to employ Chad Bradley at his newly formed firm, SBL Strategies. We regret the error.

QUICK HITS

— Los Angeles-based Coda Automotive is filing for bankruptcy protection to sell off its auto assets and focus on energy storage — but that leaves Coda owners out of luck. Businessweek: http://buswk.co/ZVzU3d

— BP and government officials have reached an agreement for BP to fund $94 million in Alabama restoration projects. AP: http://bit.ly/12Yc2dZ

— California epidemiologists are looking into an outbreak of valley fever, which is caused by fungal spores released by disturbed desert soil, at two solar farm construction sites. Los Angeles Times: http://lat.ms/11D4202

— A Canadian court has tossed a suit by Ecuadorian plaintiffs looking for a multibillion-dollar win against Chevron. Wall Street Journal: http://on.wsj.com/11WTSt1

** A message from America's Natural Gas Alliance: We believe in a clean energy future. Natural gas is a cleaner energy choice and a key partner to solar and wind technologies. From California to Florida, natural gas facilities are working with renewable energy to ensure steady, affordable and cleaner energy choices for communities across our nation. Because it is an abundant and affordable energy source available right here in America, natural gas can help make the promise of cleaner energy a reality in more American communities. Natural gas is smarter power today. Visit anga.us to learn more. **